Unless You’re Over 65, Eating A Lot Of Protein Increases Risk Of Cancer, Mortality

Two recent studies from the U.S. and Australia, one in mice and one in humans, found evidence that diets high in protein can actually be harmful over the long run. Protein-rich diets do have their benefits: they contribute to weight loss and to normalization of blood sugar levels. But the study in mice, which tested various ratios of protein to carbohydrates, found that animals that ate higher ratios of protein were leaner, but shorter-lived. The 18-year clinical study in 6,381 adults found that people aged 50 to 65 whose diet included high levels of animal protein were at much greater risk of cancer death and overall mortality. However, people over 65 who ate more animal protein survived longer.